TOWARDS CI51 Thailand Contact Improvisation Conference PART 1.

Where: Chiang Dao, Thailand

When: 18 – 24 May 2023

Deadline for applications: 10 May 2023

Gathering to celebrate the 51 year anniversary of Contact Improvisation in the heart of South East Asia.
The conference is a meeting point for practitioners of CI from Asia-based communities and beyond. A space for inquiry, artistic exchange, intense practice and collaboration.
It is an opportunity to connect with the practice and wider community, reshape and deepen shared understanding of Contact Improvisation by considering its history and development since its inception in 1972.

The information about PART 2: https://fb.me/e/130TXwguz

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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

How we can shift our weight here and there simultaneously
How one can control his/her own weight, and yet let go of the control
How one can be so gentle in touch, and yet so spontaneous
How we can look with our “skin” but eyes
How much we understand our own body
Or our body understand the world
How brave we can let go
And yet find the true freedom
Contact Improvisation has a hard core as the physical practice, through the practice we understand Contact Improvisation is not just a technique, but also a path of self-discovery as a human being. From which we learn and relearn. This workshop is aimed to enlarge our perspective, for the space we don’t really “see”, or the diverse factors which are beyond our intel-lecture understanding. However, “body” knows better.

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PROGRAM

The workshop consists of 4 full days, morning and afternoon sessions, evening jams and a film documentary screening.
The last 2 days will be integrational days – space open to practice as well as an opportunities to visit sights of Chiang Dao. In the evenings we will have focused jams facilitated by Yu-Chien Cheng.

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VENUE

The training will take place at the Youth Camp in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The open-air dance space is situated right next to a big green field and a small stream and the venue is a 10-minute walk from a natural hot spring by the river.
Chiang Dao is 1.5 hours North of Chiang Mai, it can be reached by public bus, taxi or with your own vehicle.
See info pack for more details: https://tinyurl.com/infopackCD

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APPLICATION

The group size is limited to 35. Participants are asked to fill in the application form which will be reviewed by the organizers and facilitator. Deadline for application is 15th April.
Please fill in the application form here: https://tinyurl.com/MingShenCI51

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CONTRIBUTION

Contribution to the training is presented in the sliding scale format and based on your financial situation.
The contribution includes 3 vegetarian meals per day on training days with Ming Shen (19-22), and breakfast and vegetarian dinners on the last two integrational days. Accommodation is not included.
Scale
10,000THB/€275 Low income price which covers the minimum cost of organization. 8 places available.
13,000THB/€355 Regular price
15,000THB/€410 Supportive price – 2000THB of the ticket sale goes towards offering partial scholarships to those who cannot afford to pay low income price.
There will be a scholarship program to support those who wish to participate but cannot afford to do so due to financial circumstances. More information and application form will be shared soon.

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ACCOMMODATION

There are 2 options for onsite accommodation:
Camping space (bring your own tent) – 200THB/night (~5.5EUR)
Bed in a shared dormitory – 250THB/night (~7EUR)
Both options have a shared kitchen and bathrooms
There are private bungalows for rent within walking distance, please check the information pack for more details: https://tinyurl.com/infopackCD

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About MING-SHEN KU

After teaching for 25 years, Ming-Shen Ku retired as the Dean from Dance School of Taipei National University of the Arts, currently was nominated as Honorary Professor.
As an active choreographer and dancer, Ming-Shen Ku has settled her base in Taiwan since 1987. Ms. Ku’s works are influenced by many Western and Eastern dance styles, a merging development from her diverse backgrounds.
After involved in CI community in New York for a few years, Ming-Shen invited Steve Paxton to have a week-long duet performances in Taiwan in 1992. Ever Since, she starts her teaching and invite guest artists to come to Taiwan every year, such as Nancy Stark Smith, Julyen Hamilton, Lisa Nelson, Karen Nelson, K.J. Holm, Chris Aiken and Olivier Besson. Over a few decades, Ming-Shen Ku become a representative of Contact Improvisation in Asia.
Since 1992, Ms. Ku became deeply involved in Contact Improvisation and introduced it to Taiwan. She founded her dance company “Ku & Dancers” in 1993 to present new works and promotes the concept of improvisation. “Ku & Dancers” has set their foot print in New York, Australia, Paris, London, China, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan.
She has collaborated with many dance companies, such as Cloud Gate Dance Theater in Taiwan, and companies in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Austria as well as the U.S. Her solo performance has also been invited to tour in the US, London, Paris, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong. The review from the New York Times has commented on her work “simple and handsome”.
Ms. Ku has also been invited as a guest artist to perform and to teach in many universities and dance companies around the world. She has received Wu San Lien award, a lifetime achievement award in 2009, and National Award for Arts in 2020.

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About YU-CHIEN CHENG (ZOE)

Yu-Chien Cheng (Zoe) is a dance artist/ curator/choreographer/educator. She was an instructor at the Cloud Gate Dance Studio and was a member of the companies Ku & Dancers after graduating from college.
During her residency in New York, Zoe had graduated from the New Media and Performance MFA program, danced and taught dance in H.T. Chen & Dancers, and also collaborated with many multimedias artists. She is devoted to teaching and developing classes in contemporary dance, physical movement, improvisation, contact improvisation etc. and performing in contemporary dance and in dance theatre.
During her residency in Shanghai, she founded Inch Dance and Shanghai improvisation Festival. She has collaborated and performed in YUZ Museum, Modern Art Museum Shanghai, chiK11 Art Museum, How Art Museum, Modern Art Museum Shanghai and at many arts festivals.

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Organised by
Towards – Centre for the practice and research of Contact Improvisation in Thailand / Asia.
https://towards.contact/

How to apply / register:

Please fill in the application form here: https://tinyurl.com/MingShenCI51

Costs for participants:
Scale 10,000THB/€275 Low income price which covers the minimum cost of organization. 8 places available.
13,000THB/€355 Regular price
15,000THB/€410 Supportive price – 2000THB of the ticket sale goes towards offering partial scholarships to those who cannot afford to pay low income price.

Contact details: towards.contact@gmail.com

For further information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/618364690319812